16 Jan, 2012
Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
Obama honors Martin Luther King at Washington church
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama celebrated the legacy of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with his family on Sunday, clapping and swaying to the boisterous strains of "Amazing Grace" at a historic Washington D.C. Baptist church.
On the eve of the holiday marking King's birthday, the president, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, attended a service at Zion Baptist Church.
The Reverend Keith Byrd Sr. called on congregants to keep King's legacy alive and welcomed the first family.
"[The Obamas] came here to worship, and we want them to worship," Byrd said. "Bless you and thank you for joining us."
Deacon Hendri Williams, who also spoke at the service, closed his remarks by highlighting King's belief in the importance of religion and quoted from a letter King wrote from the Birmingham, Alabama, city jail to his fellow clergy in 1963.
King, a Baptist pastor, said the church was "not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society," Williams said quoting from the now famous letter.
A recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, King, was assassinated in 1968.
The Zion Baptist church was founded in 1864 by African Americans who migrated to Washington from Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Story and Photo provided by news.yahoo.com.
Philemon 1:10-12, 25 (ESV)
10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. ...
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the key to experiencing racial reconciliation?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes provide this insight verse 25:
Paul urged Philemon to be reconciled to his slave, receiving him as a brother and fellow member of God's family. Reconciliation means reestablishing relationship. Christ has reconciled us to God and to others. Many barriers come between people - race, social status, sex, personality differences - but Christ can break down these barriers. Jesus Christ changed Onesimus's relationship to Philemon from slave to brother. Christ can transform our most hopeless relationships into deep and loving friendships.
Martin Luther King's dream can become a reality only through the power of Jesus Christ.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God that in Jesus Christ, all of His followers are truly one family. Confess any prejudice you have toward others because of racial, economic, or political differences. Ask Christ to work through you to remove barriers between others.
- Pray every day to be like Jesus to everyone you know and meet.
- Write down specific ways you are allowing barriers toward other people to keep you from being like Jesus.
- Keep this on your prayer list and let God's Spirit change your heart.
- Read the book of Philemon to get the whole story.
How can we connect Today's Story, God's Story and Our Story to others?
- Get together with friends and/or family members and go online to listen to the "I HAVE A DREAM" speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. Afterwards, talk about what you learned in today's DAILYBIDE.
- Identify someone with whom you need reconciliation. Start today.
- Ask Jesus to give you His insight in looking for the opportunity to learn the stories of three people with a racial background different than yours.
- Get together with some friends and dream of some ways you can volunteer your time to serve your community, not just to honor Dr. King's memory, but to glorify the Name of Jesus.
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